Leverkusen to face København for Champions League berth

vor 2 Stunden

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will face Danish Superliga runners-up FC København in the UEFA Champions League play-off round The Werkself are hoping to book their place in the group stages of the competition for the second consecutive season

Nyon - Bayer 04 Leverkusen will face FC København in the UEFA Champions League play-off round to determine who will feature in the group stages of Europe's premier club competition in 2014/15.

The Werkself are aiming to reach the group stages for the second year in succession after crashing out to Paris Saint Germain in the last 16 under the tutelage of Sami Hyypia last season.

Leno: 'A winnable tie'

"You have to take it as it comes," analysed coach Roger Schmidt. "Now it's up to us to perform to the maximum and win over the two legs, and having home advantage in the second leg is obviously very welcome." Goalkeeper Bernd Leno was equally respectful of the task facing the team, but is optimistic of turning out in the Champions League again this season. "We have a clear aim of reaching the group stages and we'll do everything in our power to get there. We respect Kobenhavn but this is a winnable tie."

The Danes finished second in the Danish Superliga last season, while Leverkusen emerged from the Bundesliga's three-team battle to finish fourth, claiming the final qualification position for the Champions League. The exact dates and times of the fixtures will be announced later today, with the first legs set to be played on 19 and 20 August and the return legs set to take place a week later.

The final of this year's tournament will take place on German soil in Berlin's Olympiastadion, three years after Munich's Allianz Arena hosted European football's showpiece event.

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